The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Nashville Predators at the Bell Centre, looking to extend their early-season winning streak to four games.
Thanks to late-game heroics from Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield, the game went to overtime, where Caufield once again played the hero, securing a 3-2 win.
Let’s dive into the highlights!
Something Happened!
The New Jersey Devils of the early 2000s would be proud of the lack of action between the Predators and Canadiens on Thursday night, at least at first.
Steven Stamkos did manage to actually score a goal 11 minutes into the second period, and fittingly, it was a broken play that saw his pass deflect off Kaiden Guhle’s skate.
The Stamkos powerplay shot deflects off Guhle. Predators up 1-0. pic.twitter.com/K9F8BEEtAV
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
Quick Change
Head coach Martin St-Louis opted to switch up his defensive pairings after a forgettable start to the game, promoting Jayden Struble to play alongside Lane Hutson. It was a smart decision, as the pair produced excellent underlying numbers last season (59.8% xGF).
They didn’t immediately click offensively, but Struble was solid, and he clearly saved a goal after an odd bounce almost handed the Predators a 2-0 lead.
Good work by Struble to prevent a goal after a weird bounce. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/yN6j6W9ese
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
They’re ALIIIIIIVE
Oliver Kapanen finally broke the ice for the Habs midway through the third period, pouncing on his own rebound to score his third of the year. On top of taking advantage of the generous amount of ice space available in the Predators’ zone, it’s worth noting now Kapanen currently leads all NHL rookies in goal scoring.
It’s been a picture-perfect start to the year for the 21-year-old Finn.
A big goal by Oliver Kapanen, good work to get his own rebound. His third goal of the year. Tie game. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/5O2rGbH5J4
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
The excitement lasted a few minutes before a good chance for Mike Matheson at one end turned into a goal for Nick Perbix at the other.
A good chance for Matheson, but the shift ends with a goal for Nick Perbix. Predators up 2-1. pic.twitter.com/KPpIWPrWmO
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
Flip The Script
Hockey is always full of surprises. With one of the most boring games in recent memory winding down, Hutson made the save of the week to shut down an empty-net chance for Nashville. Of course, he wasn’t done there.
He quickly fired off a perfect outlet pass for Cole Caufield, who scored yet another crucial goal at a crucial time.
You have to see it to believe it.
WOW!
Lane Hutson saves the day, then feeds Cole Caufield who scores yet ANOTHER big goal for the #GoHabsGo.
Movie stuff. Tie game with 15 seconds left. pic.twitter.com/TlfG7jww4b
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
The Habs weren’t done surprising.
Thanks to an excellent shift by Mike Matheson, not to mention a smart pass by Nick Suzuki, Caufield once again scored a gigantic overtime goal with just two seconds left on the clock, maintaining his red-hot start to the year in the process.
What a finish by the Canadiens!!!
Nick Suzuki feeds Cole Caufield, who scores AGAIN in a big moment. Habs win in the last few seconds of overtime.
Great work by Matheson, too. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/gii9YBOeA6
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
Additional Montreal Canadiens Notes
- The first period epitomized low-event hockey, however, Jakub Dobes rose to the occasion when necessary.
A big save by Jakub Dobes to keep the game tied. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/uAV8GbcMI3
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 16, 2025
- Zachary Bolduc is going to be a fan favourite in the very near future, if he’s not already. His style of play, which essentially boils down to driving the net with a head full of steam any chance he gets, is quite fun to watch.
- Usually, by the midpoint of the game I have 1000 or so words jotted down, but on Thursday, roughly four things happened in the first 30 minutes, and two of those were faceoffs. It felt like watching a Ken Burns documentary series on the average thread count of linen in the Western theatre of the American Civil War, which, admittedly, I would absolutely watch, but that’s the recipe for a perfect Sunday.
- Speaking of documentaries, The Great Molasses Flood is about a disaster that occurred Boston, and not the pace of the hockey game between Nashville and Montreal.
- Ivan Demidov needs to be on the first powerplay unit. Immediately. And maybe they should also leave him on the second powerplay unit, but we can cross that bridge when we get there.
- An unfortunate sight, as Kaiden Guhle was hunched over in pain in the third period. The team is yet to provide a health update, but it would be incredibly unfortunate to see Guhle stuck in the infirmary for another long stretch. Update: Some good news, as Guhle felt comfortable enough to return to the ice shortly afterward.
Kaiden Guhle having a hard time getting off the ice: pic.twitter.com/oNDTQ8C1Cb
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
- The Montreal’s credit, they picked up their play in the third period, most notably once the Predators restored their one-goal lead.
- Jakub Dobes is very aggressive, and you love to see it.
Dobes makes a huge save in OT, and then tries to relaunch the offence. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/A472pBLGsq
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) October 17, 2025
The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Saturday. They will face the New York Rangers at the Bell Centre, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.
All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted, via Natural Stat Trick.
